Help... rusted bolts!!

Post by **offtheline** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

I am trying to replace my shocks and on the fronts, the two 17 mm bolts on both sides are completely rusted. For the life of me, I cannot break them loose. I have liquid wrench and a foot long 3/4" drive bar... Im not a big guy but I cant do anything to make any of them budge! Im really really pissed off right now. Any help would be appreciated.

Post by **corn322** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

be carefully you don't break the heads off. I broke 2 bolts when I took my heat shield off.try getting the liquid wrench in from both sides, and use an impact wrench you have one. or hit the bolts with a hammer.

Post by **offtheline** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

I think Im going to try to take it up to a local shop and see if they cant get them loose for me for free... we'll see what happens... I dont want to break them. Thanks.

Post by **offtheline** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

Nope... both shops I went to gave me a big fat "NO". Great. Id really rather not pay 200 bucks to have these installed when it is work I could do myself.

Post by **WingsNThangs** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

Use some grease or some other lubricant and try harder. I remember when I was replacing the front shocks, I almost gave up. But sure enough they came loose. Also try using a regular wrench and a beefy mallet to loosen in bolt. Remember, Force = Mass X Acceleration. And definitely don't forget: righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Post by **red240ne** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

PB BLASTER---from the words of the Seafoam god, K-Car...god rest his soul.

Post by **U12 2NR** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

you don't really need a penetrating oil right now. Sounds to me you need a rust remover first. There are rust removing jellies that you apply onto rusted areas, let it sit and wipe all that rust right off. THEN use the penetrating oil. Although it's a long shot, threads get stripped by forcing nuts over rusted threads. You can even use rust remover spray and a wire brush to scrape the rust off. If you need a bit more leverage over the nut, use a long extention on your socket wrench (to clear the spindle) then put a long pipe over the end of the wrench.

Post by **HachiRoku** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

i think it might be a good idea to liquid-wrench or wd-40 it for a while longer, maybe tap the bolts with a wrench or something to try to get the liquid into the threads.

then stick a pipe into your wrench so you can get more torque on the bolts. don't use impact force when torquing the bolts, you will break stuff this way. just lean on it to try to make it budge, if you need more force, keep your feet on the ground and just push. re-apply wd-40, tap, and weight a few minutes before trying again if you think it's still too tight. i'm sure it's going to take a lot of force to get the bolts moving, but once they let go, it should be easier to turn them.

use new bolts when installing your new shocks. maybe you can put some anti-seize on the bolt threads to prevent them from seizing again.

Post by **Nismo_Freak** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

Rust Penetrant in a can is what you need.

Spray it on liberally, allow to sit for 10 minutes, then spray some WD-40 on it. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so and then try to take them off. If it still doesn't break loose then repeat. Thats how I got my exhaust bolts off.

Post by **StanBo** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

Can't you use a nut cracker and crack the nut off then just tap the bolt out of the knuckle?

Post by **offtheline** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

thanks for the replies guys. I am going to head to home depot and get a pipe to slip over the end of the wrench to get some more torque. The bolts have been marinating so hopefully they will come loose. Ill probably grab some rust gunk too.

Post by **stretch240sx** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

corn322 wrote:be carefully you don't break the heads off. I broke 2 bolts when I took my heat shield off.try getting the liquid wrench in from both sides, and use an impact wrench you have one. or hit the bolts with a hammer.

what did you do with the bolts with no head?

Post by **MaineExport** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

PB Blaster is better than anything I've ever used... give it a day with that stuff soaking in... and it should be good to go. If not... cut it off with a grinder... and go from there.

Oh yeah... get a 24" or larger breaker bar with a 1/2" drive. Don't mess around with putting extensions on your wrench... that's improper use of the tool... and it will haunt you in he end. ALWAYS use the proper tool for the job, that's pretty much an essential rule.

Post by **HachiRoku** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

maineimport wrote:Don't mess around with putting extensions on your wrench... that's improper use of the tool... and it will haunt you in he end. ALWAYS use the proper tool for the job, that's pretty much an essential rule.

i understand what you're trying to say by using proper tools for the job, and i've never heard of doing such a thing as "improper"

but

cheater pipes and bars or whatever have been used for a while already to loosen tight/seized nuts and bolts and i have never encountered anyone calling it improper use. same goes with linking two open-wrenches to gain leverage and any other 'tricks' that i've heard of when using tools.

maybe to a certain extent, it's not recommended to do this but i'd like to know more since this is the first time i've ever heard that doing 'tricks' are improper.

Post by **StanBo** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

HachiRoku wrote:i understand what you're trying to say by using proper tools for the job, and i've never heard of doing such a thing as "improper"

but

cheater pipes and bars or whatever have been used for a while already to loosen tight/seized nuts and bolts and i have never encountered anyone calling it improper use. same goes with linking two open-wrenches to gain leverage and any other 'tricks' that i've heard of when using tools.

maybe to a certain extent, it's not recommended to do this but i'd like to know more since this is the first time i've ever heard that doing 'tricks' are improper.

They are tricks and they can lead to you being hurt. They are safety items.

The tools are not made to have a pipe slid over them and gronked down on. You are applying pressure to a non hardened spot bla bla bla bla.

I know safety goes in one ear and out the other.

Have some gloves and glasses on and hope that the wrench head does seperate on you and your hand go rushing into whatever you are trying to seperate.

Post by **HachiRoku** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

24Osxgtrguy wrote:hachiroku=homosexual.

you need to be shot

Post by **HachiRoku** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

StanBo wrote:They are tricks and they can lead to you being hurt. They are safety items.

The tools are not made to have a pipe slid over them and gronked down on. You are applying pressure to a non hardened spot bla bla bla bla.

I know safety goes in one ear and out the other.

Have some gloves and glasses on and hope that the wrench head does seperate on you and your hand go rushing into whatever you are trying to seperate.

i sort of had that in mind but just had to clarify.

thanks.

i think that as long as you really know what you're doing, then it is most likely ok. just use good judgement with your selection of tool(s) and hope you'll get out fine with what you're trying to do. i normally wouldn't do such things with socket wrenches though because of higher risk in breakage.

if you don't get hurt from a breaking wrench, then just hope that it's a craftsman.

Post by **MaineExport** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

Originally posted by HachiRoku "]i understand what you're trying to say by using proper tools for the job,

Sweet... we're getting somewhere!!!

and i've never heard of doing such a thing as "improper"

Oh... I guess not.

cheater pipes and bars or whatever have been used for a while already to loosen tight/seized nuts and bolts

And black people were used as slaves for hundreds of years. I suppose that since there is a recorded history of their successful use as tools, that such behavior should be considered "proper"?

I know... that example is a little over the top... but you need to see that your logic is flawed. It is obvious that you haven't spent much time in a garage or shop with good mechanics. And it's also obvious that you've never had to deal with OSHA inspectors. Anyway... use whatever tools you want for the job, far be it from me to try and help you out.

ANY mechnic worth his salt will ALWAYS use the proper tool for the job. Backyard mechanics and weekend warriors cut corners and use the "tricks" you speak of. Ever wonder why emergecy room visits are about 200% higher on weekends?

maybe to a certain extent, it's not recommended to do this

NO, it's NEVER recommended to do it

}but i'd like to know more since this is the first time i've ever heard that doing 'tricks' are improper.

Two things then... either listen to good sound advice when people offer it... or hang out with mechanics that care about their work, results, and well-being.

Geez man... did you ever take Shop Class in middle school?

Post by **StanBo** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

I deal with OSHA and the:

"This is the book way, and this is how it is done in the field"

Do what you have to do to get the job done and go home they way you came in for work.

Post by **HachiRoku** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

Quote »but you need to see that your logic is flawed. It is obvious that you haven't spent much time in a garage or shop with good mechanics. And it's also obvious that you've never had to deal with OSHA inspectors. Anyway... use whatever tools you want for the job, far be it from me to try and help you out.

ANY mechnic worth his salt will ALWAYS use the proper tool for the job. Backyard mechanics and weekend warriors cut corners and use the "tricks" you speak of. Ever wonder why emergecy room visits are about 200% higher on weekends?[/quote]OK...now a professional shop/garage with mechanics I would expect to see tools for whatever job they will specialize in. I've never hung around shops/garages nor have I heard of OSHA, so that's something I never knew about.

Some "backyard mechanics" who can't afford or are just unwilling to buy every tool in the book will cut corners every now and then.

Quote »

maybe to a certain extent, it's not recommended to do this

Quote »NO, it's NEVER recommended to do it[/quote][/quote]

I didn't mean "by the book" terms, but by using good judgment. Let's just say it's never recommended because of possible risks.

Quote »

but i'd like to know more since this is the first time i've ever heard that doing 'tricks' are improper.

Quote »Two things then... either listen to good sound advice when people offer it... or hang out with mechanics that care about their work, results, and well-being.[/quote][/quote]

I'll take the advice

Quote »Geez man... did you ever take Shop Class in middle school? [/quote]

I live in the inner-city where schools were crap, and never gave us oppurtunity, all they could do was take us in and try to get us out asap. Those of us who were top achievers in school didn't get to do any of the cool things like shop class since it didn't exist nor did it provide any challenge. There was no money for the cool stuff and/or school administration was corrupt.

I had to learn a lot of this stuff through personal research and experimenting etc.

Thank you for your time.

Post by **MaineExport** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

I'm sorry to hear about your lack of educational opportunities... that is truly unfortunate. I know I shouldn't preach and I hope it didn't sound like too much of a rant. I think we've all resorted to some of the shortcuts or tricks once in a while... it would be unrealistic to think otherwise. But the point remains the same... you will save yourself time, pain, and money when you do things right.

Post by **corn322** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

stretch240sx wrote:what did you do with the bolts with no head?

left them in the exhaust manifold

Post by **offtheline** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 5:46 am

As a closer to this thread I just wanted to say that PB Blaster is really something else. Anyone who has had problems with rusted bolts and hasnt tried this really should. It is amazing. It was the only thing that helped me. It allowed me to finish a job that I though I would have to take to a mechanic. Thanks to you who pointed me in that direction.

Help... rusted bolts!!

Help... rusted bolts!!

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